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Tulane University schedules forums on stadium plan

Tulane University hopes to complete construction of a proposed on-campus stadium by 2014.

NEW ORLEANS -

A series of forums will be held to gather public input on a controversial stadium planned for Uptown, Tulane University officials said on Tuesday.

The forums were scheduled for June 6, June 18 and July 11 on the school's campus.

University leaders hope the meetings will ease neighborhood concerns and help develop plans for traffic, parking and stadium usage that will minimize the impact on residents.

"These programs are designed to allow inclusive community participation," said Yvette Jones, executive vice president for University Relations and Development. "I know from previous meetings with our neighbors that we will have a wide-ranging conversation that will allow us to address, and hopefully resolve any areas of concern."

Officials said Tulane University remains "unequivocally opposed" to the creation of an Interim Zoning District that was recommended by the New Orleans City Council. Mayor Mitch Landrieu also opposes the creation of the IZD, sharing Tulane's concern that such a move will significantly delay construction.

"The process being outlined today will allow for thoughtful and constructive community engagement," Landrieu said. "I intend to work aggressively with Tulane and the neighbors to ensure that its parking and traffic plans make sense and minimize impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. But we cannot and should not stall progress.

"We can achieve the end result of having meaningful discussions about our concerns without the IZD, as this process lays out."

Details on the forums and other stadium-related issues are posted online at TulaneStadium.com.

The Obama administration will unveil a major climate change plan Monday aimed at a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's coal-burning power plants, a senior administration official told CNN.